Metroparks Planning Department Updates

By Nina Kelly, Manager of Planning

On March 14, the Planning Department took part in a Disc Golf Planning Workshop hosted by Oakland County Parks and Recreation in partnership with the Metroparks and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The workshop was a public forum to share information about disc golf in Oakland County and to gather feedback from disc golfers and others about experiences and needs. The Metroparks station was staffed by System Planner Jason Bibby, and featured questionnaires, comment cards, flip charts, aerial maps and park information. Oakland County Parks and Recreation will be providing a report on the input gathered from the estimated 50 attendees at the workshop.

The joint planning process for Willow and Oakwoods Metroparks is currently underway! The final public input meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 28 from 6 – 7:30 p.m. at the Oakwoods Metroparks Nature Center. At this meeting, Planning staff will present data gathered thus far, as well as a draft list of projects for the two parks. Comments and suggestions will be taken from attendees and integrated into the plan.

An open house for the Huron Meadows Metropark master plan will be held on Saturday, April 7 from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the golf course starter building. The public is invited to drop in to contribute general feedback about the park, learn about the various facilities available and chat with Metroparks staff.

Learn more about the Planning Department, projects, master plans and more on the Planning Department webpage.

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks was awarded a $7,500 grant from the Ford Motor Company Fund to construct three new raptor (hawk/owl) enclosures to replace the two existing mews and offer room for an additional injured, non-releasable bird at Oakwoods Metropark Nature Center. During the month of November, volunteers from Ford Motor Company worked alongside Metroparks staff to construct the three updated, replacement mews in a newly designed space.

This fall, as the weather cools off and the leaves begin to change color, the Metroparks Natural Resources Department is staying busy with multiple project. We are continuing to remove invasive species from high-quality habitats, in preparation for our work next year. We are also beginning to treat Phragmites, the giant invasive reed, as this plant species begins to move its energy out of the roots and into its seed head, making the roots easier to kill.